Randall Creek Bridge Replacement

Background

The Randall Creek Recreation Area sits just below the Fort Randall Dam close to the South Dakota-Nebraska border. Situated near the western bank of the Missouri River, the recreational area is a popular destination for those who enjoy fishing, camping, hiking, and more.

In the spring of 2019, erosion from floodwaters led to the partial failure of a bridge abutment in the recreation area. This bridge provides the only access over Randall Creek to more than 100 camping sites. The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks placed a high priority on not only replacing the existing bridge but also taking steps to prevent further erosion and decrease the likelihood of future failures.

The Project

The bank erosion along Randall Creek had not only led to a partial failure of the bridge’s east abutment, but also threatened a roadway through the recreation area. The project team completed extensive hydraulic and hydrologic models early in the project.

With the information provided by the models, the project team completed designs for a new bridge. In addition, designs were completed for an extensive bank stabilization and new riprap to protect both the bridge and the bank against future erosion.

Construction was completed in mid-June 2020 so that the recreation area could be open to visitors during the busy summer season.

The new bridge is a 100-foot single-span precast concrete bulb tee bridge with two driving lanes plus a pedestrian lane. Total construction costs were estimated at $2 million.

Learn more about this project in our StoryMap.